Paxton plans to study chicken ordinance

The Paxton City Council wants more information before deciding whether to discuss allowing poultry within city limits.

There was little comment at a recent meeting. No action was taken after a resident told the aldermen he was asked by several residents to seek permission to raise hens. One alderman said he wants to hear from residents who personally want the new ordinance. Other aldermen made no comment.

The city attorney provided the council with a proposed ordinance for consideration.

Budget talks stir comments from Kankakee County Sheriff Bukowski

Kankakee County Sheriff Tim Bukowski is encouraging his local officials to "put it on the table" and let employees know what's going on.

At a meeting Monday with finance committee leaders, Bukowski said it's unfair to the employees to keep them in limbo. The sheriff said employees need to be told one way or the other what the County Board intends to do in dealing with the budget.

The local FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) has taken issue with recent reports about cutting up to 20 or more deputies to deal with the budget crisis. County Board Chairman Mike Bossert has likewise taken issue with the union about its stand, which Bossert says borders on the fine-line of hampering union negotiations.

The County Board finance committee has given Sheriff Bukowski the OK t6 work on agreements to house additional inmates at the downtown jail to shore up the bottom line.

Homer area stabbing leads to brothers arrests

A domestic dispute in Vermilion County ended with one man being stabbed and two brothers arrested Sunday. Sheriff deputies responded to a fight in progress at a home along the Catlin-Homer Road. When officers arrived, they discovered that a 30-year-old Sidell man had been stabbed.

The victim was was listed in serious condition late Sunday at Carle Hospital in Urbana. Police are not releasing the victim's name. Investigators say the two men being held in the case are brothers. One is a 35-year-old Chrisman man, and the other is is 37-year-old brother from Akin, Illinois. The preliminary charges are aggravated battery and unlawful use of a weapon. The names of the suspects are being withheld pending the possible filing of formal charges.